Eventguided transactions

ABSTRACT

the invention concerns a server for eventguided transactions in an open network for computer and telecommunication. The server has category interfaces for the categories service, application and customer, which open for communication to the server through an identification code called the roll code. Switching devices are connected to the communication interface, which with devices for logical determination of true or false for each application computer program decide if the switch is to connect a certain application computer program to a certain service module. An identification code device allocates each user a roll code and controls and updates the same at log-in. Indicators are controlled by drivers for graphical viewing on a screen, where the indicators according to the contents of the roll code through their indication show a specific event that demands attention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a server for event guided transactionsin an open network for computer and telecomununication, whereby theserver has a categorisation for the categories service, application andcustomer for access to the server.

STATE OF THE ART

In today's society companies are subject to an ever greater extent todomestic and global competition. In order to manage the hardeningcompetition it is necessary to be the best for the products and servicesthat they have to present to a market. Simultaneously the company shouldbe able to present a wide product and/or service portfolio to itscustomers.

A way to achieve the above is to integrate a company's service portfoliowith partners and suppliers of services in order to let the differentactors focus on that which is exactly their core business. Here thetechnical development through the Internet, wideband connection, ASP(Administrable Service Provider) solutions, etc, have created theprerequisites for entirely new types of contact points between differentcompanies.

For the new types of contact points there is no machine/device that in ageneral and effective way can integrate and handle contact pointsbetween different actors/companies among other things in order to easeand focus the companies' business and to bridge geographic distances.Bridging geographic distances is not the least important in order tothat the company not feel forced to establish business activities inlarge city areas without also being able to offer employment in ruralareas.

A field of operation that has made it possible for a company toconcentrate on its core business is so-called “outsourcing/hosting” ofnecessary business that does not belong to the category core business.Here belong for instance postal, economics and accounting business,whereby for example the two last mentioned can be outsourced to aaccounting office in order to make own operations more effective andfacilitate focusing on the own end customer market.

Observed problems with outsourcing of for example economic operationssuch as accounting are that they have been a relatively static line oftrade. However, the market for economic and administrative servicesfaces structural changes. Buy-ups and mergers between differentaccounting and auditors' offices are in progress. Price-worthy customeradministrative computer programs such as XOR, Hogia and SPCS ease theeconomic process a lot for the customer companies of accounting offices.This has also entailed that profitability in the traditional bookkeepingbusiness has decreased. However, current technology and equipment doesnot sufficiently support rational methods of working between differentactors as for instance in the economic operations customercompany—computer program application supplier—auditors' offices chain.

A customer company for a computer program application supplier(application supplier) and auditors' offices, where the auditors'offices are also customers of the application supplier, experiencetechnical and administrative problems in that:

-   -   Economic routines are a necessary evil    -   Small companies themselves work overtime in order to take care        of economics    -   Relatively high competence is still needed to install IT        solutions and administrative systems, which is a scarce        commodity in small companies    -   Continual upgrades of own computer programs are a problem    -   Companies often depend on auditors' offices to register the        legal bookkeeping. This is even more true for follow-up and        control of the economic situation    -   Companies have access to the Internet and to an ever greater        extent also to wideband    -   Companies adjust requirements on control, security and correct        management of outsourcing    -   Companies that grow are faced with the alternative of using        their own personnel to man economics functions that earlier were        carried out by an office    -   Companies with own economics personnel are sensitive to changes        in personnel.

Today many companies solve this through using personnel hiring companiesfor short term manning.

Today bookkeepers' and auditors' offices face among other things thefollowing problems:

-   -   A weakening market for simpler accountancy and a changed        customer profile set new requirements.    -   They lack powerful and price worthy tools in order to integrate        customer economics functions with their own IT systems    -   Buy-ups and mergers between different bookkeeping and economics        offices change the competitive situation    -   Bookkeeping and economics offices should develop their service        supply through offering administrative solutions, support,        education, advising, etc    -   Office chains request machines/systems that allow shared        information/databases and processes for several different types        of actors/companies.

Suppliers of economy application computer programs compete on a more andmore global market. Suppliers require simpler handling of distributionand penetration of new markets. Distribution channels change and thesuppliers that have flexible programs can present their programs on theInternet for instance in collaboration with ASP suppliers. On theInternet customer companies can thereby load and run applications andstore computer program related information.

However, today's application supplier lacks much of the totalfunctionality that is needed in order to make the economic andadministrative work of a company effective. However, this can beachieved through virtual integration of the functionality that exists ina number of different programs that today are the property of differentactors such as service companies (accounting offices), computer programapplication companies and company hotels for computer programs. Thismeans that a customer company tries to optimise the costs in itsoperations for management of IT and personnel and to focus on its ownoperations. However, what always remains is that someone in the companyhas total responsibility for the different administrative functions andfor integrating auditing with reporting to the company's management.

At present there exists a number of hosting/ASP solutions round certainERP suppliers' products (ERP; Enterprise Resource Planning), but nodevice or system that enables integration between an office and acustomer company's process/routines. Neither is there any other devicethat integrates computer program applications.

Altogether there is therefore a need to solve problems concerningauditors' offices need of rational tools that make it possible tointegrate operations and the collaboration between auditors' offices andcustomer companies. An auditors' office is in great need of tools tosupport its operational processes and to support customer companies insuch a way as to make it possible to create new capabilities foreffective collaboration. Suppliers of computer programs, for exampleeconomy computer programs, also require the tools that create simplerdistribution channels and new markets.

The international patent application WO 00/77707 shows how a financialconsultant administrates a plurality of accounts with a server and adatabase.

In WO 01/28 188 an auditing system that carries out accounting based oninput activity information is described.

U.S. patent application 2001/018674 A1 describes a global communicationnetwork for financial services.

In order to solve the problems and needs described above IT technicalsolutions are needed such that the machines and system that realise themhave a direct channel to customers that include the above mentionedcustomer companies and miscellaneous offices. Here it is desirable thata new actor be created in the market that takes on a role as anindependent actor in the market, providing economy/administrationcomputer programs to offices and their customer companies so thatoperations and processes are coupled together in an effective way.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED INVENTION

In order to realise a solution on the above problems the presentinvention provides a server for eventguided transactions in an opennetwork for information and telecommunication, whereby the server hascategory interfaces for the categories service, application and customerfor access to the server. The server includes:

-   -   a device for storage of new application computer programs and        updates of existing ones for transactions via the interface for        the category application;    -   a partitioning device for a predetermined memory area in the        server, which defines service modules for the interface with the        category service;    -   a communication interface in the server for at least one        application computer program for each and every one of the        service modules;    -   a switching device connected to the communication interface,        which together with a device for logical determination of “true”        or “false” for each application computer program decides if the        switch should turn on a certain application computer program for        a specific service module;    -   a device that couples the category interface for service to a        service module through the communication interface;    -   a device that couples the category interface customer to at        least one service module through the communication interface;    -   an identification code device that allocates each user a roll        code and controls and updates it when logging in, which includes        at least parameters for category identification, receiver,        service module identity and either degree of authorisation or        corrective measure;    -   indicators that are controlled by drivers for graphical viewing        on a screen, where according to the contents of the roll code        the indicators through their indication make it possible to        visualise a specific event that demands attention by a user        corresponding to the parameter receiver in the roll code.

In an embodiment of the invention the category interfaces also include aportal for access to the server.

In another embodiment the application interface has total computerprogram transparency between users of service and customer interfaces ina module through the application computer program being coupled to themodule with the service that the customer desires.

An additional embodiment prescribes that each user of the serviceinterface choose optional software for the respective module through anapplication device.

Additionally the invention includes an embodiment where an update of anapplication and a new application are produced and initiated in anapplication device through the application interface, which frees moduleusers from management of the update.

Furthermore, an embodiment includes all applications being coupled to asingle module via the logical states “true” or “false” through a singleswitch, whereby the state “true” couples the application to the module.

Another embodiment includes that all modules are coupled to applicationsvia the logical states “true” or “false” through a single switch for therespective application, whereby the state “true” for a module in theswitch couples the application to the module.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in a roll code includinga data string in the form of fields. Another embodiment allows the fieldreceiver in the roll code to include several receivers for a roll codethat is used for access to the server through the application interface.Further, in one embodiment the field service module identity in the rollcode includes the identity of several modules on access to the serverthrough the application interface.

In an alternative embodiment of the roll code (30, 40, 50) it iscomplemented with a field for each reference where multiple referencesare required for a field.

Another embodiment includes the modules themselves being linked todatabases where files common to customers and services are stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following in the running text there are references to theattached drawings for better understanding of the present inventionaccording to the given examples and embodiments, whereby:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a server according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically shows three versions of roll codes according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of a roll code according to thepresent invention and its activation of indicators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention according to the present description concerns a device inthe form of a server/computer for connection to an open network forcomputer and telecommunication such as the Internet and the like. Inthis respect the server has at least three categories of connectioninterface for use by its functions. These three categories are service,customer, application. The category service is put at the disposal ofcompanies that offer a service such as an outsourced one to the categorycustomer, whereby the category customer has access to the service. Theremaining category application is put at the disposal of companies thatoffer computer applications such as software and hardware associatedwith software.

The server will be further described in the following, but hereinformation is provided about its unique properties in the form ofproviding the categories service and customer with a common choice ofsoftware through a common platform, so that transparency betweeninformation that is transferred between a customer company and a servicecompany and vice versa is complete. Furthermore, via the applicationinterface the server sees to it that service and customer companiesreceive a palette of relevant software included in the server and amongwhich the service and customer companies choose their own combinationsof them. In other words, the palette of software is the same at theservice provider and at the customer to support. Furthermore, all alongupdate of the software through the application interface is allowedwithout direct involvement of either the service or the customercompany.

The server will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1.FIG. 1 shows schematically a server 10 connected to the Internetaccording to the present invention. In the present invention it isimplicit that the invention can use several servers that areprofessionally connected to each other. The server includes a serviceinterface 12, a customer interface 14 and an application interface 16 tothe Internet. The server 10 communicates internally via a bus 19 knownto experts for addressing data and control instructions between unitsincluded in the server. Known such buses are for instance the Intel@ 845(593 FC-BOA) chip, Intel@ ICH2 (360 EBOA) chip etc.

CPU 18 in FIG. 1 shows the processor(s) with motherboards, where themethods of operation are well-known by professionals in the technicalfield, for which reason it is not described in detail, but it is thecharacteristics supplied to the server 10 according to the presentinvention that are unique and innovative. In additional the server 10consists of a memory area 20 including Module 1-Module n, where n is avariable that gives the number of modules, which is determined by thenumber of service companies that use the service interface 12. To thememory area 20 via the bus 19 is connected a device for partitioning 22the memory area 10 into modules 1-n.

Block 24 in FIG. 1 shows schematically the software SW that is used inorder to control the new functions in the server 10 according to theinvention and block 26 consists of a device, ID, that handles theidentification code that the present invention uses.

In block 28 are shown schematically the applications that are used bythe different modules 1-n, whereby applications are shown schematicallyas dotted blocks. Blocks O 1-O n show switches for each of theapplications APPL 1-APPL n that decide which applications each of themodules Module 1-Module n subscribes to or has access to. In oneembodiment of the invention switches O 1-O n have logical states for“true” or “false” with respect to each application APPL 1-APPL n andtheir affiliations to each of the modules Module 1-Module n. The logicalstates true and false can be represented binarily in a known way and forexample with Boolean logic (algebra). Inverse logic is not excluded as afeasible part of the invention.

In FIG. 1 Module 1 subscribes to an application, APPL 1 through theswitch O 1 whose logical state is true for APPL 1. Module 2 subscribe totwo applications, APPL 1 and APPL 2 through switches O 1 and O 2 thatare set to true for the respective application. The last module Module nin a group of a predetermined number of modules subscribes to all threeapplications, APPL 1-APPL 3 through switches O 1-O n being set to thelogical state true for this module, O n, where n=3 in this embodiment.In this example each of the switches O 1-O 3 has been connected to anapplication APPL 1-APPL 3. It is nonetheless understood that a switchcan be coupled to only one module and thereby have logical states foreach of the applications. Other now known algorithms for making logicalconnections for the switch are not excluded according to the presentinvention.

According to what FIG. 1 shows the connections between the applicationswitch module schematically have been drawn with dotted arrows in orderto more easily visualise the connections and the communication. Inreality this communication takes place through the bus 19. The softwareor programs that are stored in block 24, SW in FIG. 1, controls andmonitors the functions in server 10 according to the present invention,which is not described in more detail, but which is considered to belongto what is known by a professional in the technical field. The software24 controls the partitioning device 22 that partitions modules in thememory area 20.

The modules Module 1-Module n are closed memory areas each of which isadministrated by a service company with computer program applications towhich customers of a service company with a specific module also haveaccess, whereby total computer program transparency between customer andservice company is achieved. The modules themselves can include links todatabases where files for customer and service company are stored forcommon handling. However, the common handling is controlled by a rollcode, which is described in the following.

Yet another unique property that the present invention has is the rollcode that each and everyone that logs in on server 10 is assigned. Hereit has been denoted roll code because it identifies the role a user hasat log-in on the server 10 via any of the interfaces 12, 14, 16. Theroll code, in addition to the usual log in process, can be different foreach user or the same for some of the users in one of the interfacesservice 12, customer 14 and application 16. In FIG. 2 three versions ofthe roll code 30, 40, 50 are shown that in an embodiment of theinvention consist of data strings including a field for each role in thecode, where the data strings have at least have fields for categoryidentity (K-ID), receiver (MOT), service module identity (TJMID) and oneof degree of service interface authorisation (T-BG), degree of customerinterface authorisation (K-BG) or degree of application interfaceauthorisation (A-BG) and measure taken (ATG).

In FIG. 2 are shown three versions of the roll code, which are basicallyof the same design. The code 30 is for a user that logs in on the server10 as a service category via the service interface 12, i.e., a moduleadministrator. The code 40 is used by a user that belongs to thecustomer category via the customer interface 14 and is a customer of auser in the service category and thereby also to a module. The last code50 in FIG. 2 is used by an application administrator via the applicationinterface 16.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2 there are five fields in the rollcode, which are denoted K-ID, MOT, TJMID, T-BG and ATG. Which interfacea user belongs to is identified through the field K-ID. The next fieldMOT gives the receiver of a measure taken in the field ATG. The fieldTJMID shows which module is affected by the measure in the field ATG.This field is a little special for a user of the application interfaceas he or she occasionally needs to take measures that concern several ofthe modules Module 1-Module n depending on which APPL 1-APPL 3 in FIG. 1that require a measure to be taken. Therefore there is an embodiment ofthe code that underlies TJMID in the roll code 50 indicative of whichmodules are affected by an application measure. In this respect also thecode underlying the field MOT can be used to address several receivers.It is also possible to take measures for each of the modules, wherebythis embodiment of the field TJMID is not required.

In another embodiment of the roll code 50 for the application interface16 fields are expanded that require multiple references, for example formodules and for receivers with a field for such.

In most of the embodiments of the invention when the server 10 modulesare used by service suppliers in the same category of service a customeris only connected to one module and the same goes for service suppliers.However, this is not the case if the server offers services from severaldifferent kinds of category of company, where a customer can beconnected to several modules in order to receive service from severalcompanies.

The roll code is analysed by the identity function in block 26, ID,shown schematically in FIG. 1, preferably for each log on and log offthrough any of the interfaces 12, 14, 16, whereby the roll code can atleast be updated in the field measure (ATG) at log off depending on themeasure or measures a user has taken after logging in. The categoryidentity field in the roll code identifies which interface 12, 14, 16has been used for logging in. The field for the receiver will bedescribed in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 3. Here it can saidthat it is attached to a computer at one of the users in the differentcategories and depends on the measure taken. For a customer that logs inon any of the modules Module 1-Module n, which belong to differentservice suppliers, the field service module field in the roll codemodule tells which module the customer has access to, which is the workarea in the memory where a service supplier and customer have theirtools for exchange of information.

The three above mentioned fields for degree of authorisation (T-B G,K-BG, A-BG) give according to some known scale what measures each useris allowed to take in the modules and what concerns installation ofapplications, updating, etc. Finally what a logged in user has done inthe server is given by a code in the measure field for the roll code.

FIG. 3 shows schematically what the roll code does at a receiver for ameasure that has been taken. In the figure indicator graphics for areceiver that is given in the receiver field in the roll code showswhich measures have been taken and/or shall be taken. The indicatorgraphics have been filled with black colour for what has happened andwill happen according to a certain pattern determined by the roll codes30, 40, 50 depending on the receiver and measure in corresponding fieldsin the roll code. The indicator graphics can also indicate using otherfields in the roll codes 30, 40, 50.

The graphics for the indicators 55 can preferably be realised on acomputer screen via a portal 60 of the server 10, which can be includedin the respective interface 12, 14, 16. Further, the indicators 55 canbe equipped with text (not shown) in order to facilitate interpretationof what the indicators display through the roll code.

The present invention as it has been described ties together processes,rolls, information and IT through internet based techniques that achievea virtual integration of service, customer and application companies.

It is the attached patent claims' formulation that provides additionalembodiments for a professional in the technical field.

1. A server for eventguided transactions in an open network for computerand telecommunication, whereby the server has category interfaces forthe categories service, application and customer for access to theserver comprising: a device for storing of new application computerprograms and updates of existing such for transactions through theinterface for the category application; a partitioning device for apredetermined memory area in the server, which defines service modulesfor the interface with the category service; a communication interfacesin the server for at least one application computer program for each ofthe service modules; a switching device connected to the communicationinterface, which using a device for logical determination of true orfalse for each application computer program decides if the switch shouldcouple a certain application computer program to a certain servicemodule; a device that connects the category interface of a service to aservice module through the communication interface; a device thatconnects the category interface customer to at least one service modulethrough the communication interface; an identification code device,which allocates each user a roll code and controls and updates the sameat log-in, which includes at least parameters for categoryidentification, receiver, service module identity, degree ofauthorisation and measure; indicators controlled by drivers forgraphical viewing on a screen, where the indicators according to thecontent of the roll code with their indication are made to show aspecific event that requires the attention of a user corresponding tothe parameter receiver in the roll code.
 2. A server according to claim1, wherein the category interfaces also includes a portal for access tothe server.
 3. A server according to claim 1, wherein the applicationinterface has total computer program transparency between users of theservice and customer interfaces in a module through the applicationcomputer program being connected to the module with the service that thecustomer requests.
 4. A server according to claim 1, wherein each userof the service interface freely chooses software for the respectivemodule in an application device.
 5. A server according to claim 1,wherein updating an application and a new application are executed andinitiated in an application device through the application interface,which frees module users from updating.
 6. A server according to claim1, wherein all applications are coupled to a single module via thelogical states_“true”_or_“false”_through a single switch, whereby thestate “true”_connects the application to the module.
 7. A serveraccording to claim 1, wherein all modules are coupled to applicationsvia the logical states allowance_“true”_or_“false” by a single switchfor the respective application, whereby the state_“true”_for a module inthe switch couples the application to the module.
 8. A server accordingto claim 1, wherein the roll code is included in a data string in theform of fields.
 9. A server according to claim 1, wherein the fieldreceiver in the roll code includes several receivers for a roll codethat is used for access to the server through the application interface.10. A server according to claim 1, wherein the field service moduleidentity in the roll code includes identities for several modules onaccess to the server through the application interface.
 11. A serveraccording to claim 1, wherein the roll code is extended by a field foreach reference when multiple references for a field are needed.
 12. Aserver according to claim 1, wherein the modules in themselves arelinked to databases where files common to customers and services arestored.